Apparatus for prefabricating wood structures

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for fabricating wood trusses providing a moving jig upon which the metal truss plates are placed in proper position on the tops and bottoms of the joints of the wood truss, and are conveyed by the jig through a first pressure means which partially drive the truss plates into the wood truss at the joints thereof, only forcing penetration sufficient to hold the plates in proper position. A set of pressure rollers through which the truss, with the truss plates partially inserted in the truss, passes for forcing the truss plates into the wood truss into their final joint holding positions. The jib is provided with means for properly positioning the properly maintaining the truss thereon, certain of which are automatically disengaged when the means is reached.

United States Patent Templin 1 51 June 6, 1972 [541 APPARATUS FORPREFABRICATIN 3,538,843 11 1970 Lubin ..-...100/D1 13 001 ST UC URE3,602,237 8/1971 Jureit ..227/1s2 x Inventor: Gail H. Templin, VeroBeach, Fla,

Templin Associates, Inc., Vero Beach, Fla.

Jan. 11, 1971 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sanford ..227/152 X Sanford..227/152 Jureit ...100/Dig. 13 Leukovitz ..l00/Dig. 13

Primary ExaminerBilly .l. Wilhite Attorney-Peck & Peck [57] ABSTRACTApparatus for fabricating wood trusses providing a moving jig upon whichthe metal truss plates are placed in proper position on the tops andbottoms of the joints of the wood truss, and are conveyed by the jigthrough a first pressure means which partially drive the truss platesinto the wood truss at the joints thereof, only forcing penetrationsufficient to hold the plates in proper position. A set of pressurerollers through which the truss, with the truss plates partiallyinserted in the truss, passes for forcing the truss plates into the woodtruss into their final joint holding positions. The jib is provided withmeans for properly positioning the properly maintaining the trussthereon, certain of which are automatically disengaged when the means isreached.

15 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 6 m2 1 N VE N TOR Gail H.Temp/in i wQ NJ ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUH 6 m2 SHEET 2 OF 5 R rl\ Dn E p O MmT M H Q MN m M .m\m Mm mm mm km Q \m 5 R. mw mw fil NEE PATENTEDJUH s1912 SHEET 3 BF 5 INVENTOR Gai/H. Temp/in BY a 1 ATTORNEY PATENTEDJun 6I972 SHEET 0F 5 INVENTOR Gail H. Temp/in izi w AT ORNEY SHEET 50F 58'667'379 PATENTEDJUM 6 I972 I INVENTOR Gail H. Temp/in qgo ATTORNEYThis invention relates broadly to an apparatus for prefabricating woodtrusses, and in its more specific aspects it relates to a unique jig, orconveyor means, for conveying wood trusses to' an initial set ofpressure means, and then to a set of pressure rollers, the initialpressure means operating to partially set, or cause partial penetrationof the teeth of the metallic truss plates into the joints of the woodtruss, and the set of pressure rollers function to fully set and causecomplete penetration of the teeth of the metallic truss plates into thewood truss at the joints thereof to permanently hold the elements of thetruss in their proper relative positions; and the nature and objects ofthe invention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilledin the arts to which it relates in the light of the followingexplanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawingsillustrating what I at present believe to be preferred embodiments ormechanical expressions of my invention from among various other forms,arrangements, combinations, and constructions, of which the invention iscapable within the spirit and scope thereof.

The conventional metallic truss plate comprises a body portion fromwhich are struck up a plurality of teeth or prongs which are adapted tobe pressed into the elements of a wood truss at the joints thereof tohold such elements together in truss forming position. The teeth, orwood penetrating prongs, of the metallic truss plate are conventionallyarranged in rows, and it has been my experience in this field that inpressing metallic truss plates of this character, into the wood trussesby rolling, it is highly desirable, to produce a proper finishedproduct, to roll one row of teeth or projections into the wood, at atime. This fact, that it is necessary, or at least highly desirable, topressure roll one row of teeth at a time into final wood penetratingposition has presented certain problems, particularly where the woodtruss and the properly positioned metallic truss plates are supported ona jig, or the like.

In the apparatus of this invention, the properly positioned trusses andmetallic truss plates are supported on a solid flexible jig whichfunctions, not only to properly position the truss plates with respectto the wood truss for the final pressing action, but'also functions toconvey the trusses and metallic truss plates to the initial partialpressing station and then to the final pressing or rolling station. Inview of the comments above, it will be appreciated that the finalpressing operation cannot be accomplished while the, trusses and thetruss plates are supported on this solid flexible jig, since with theseelements so supported one row of teeth or projections could not berolled, one at a time, into final wood penetrating position, because ofthe solid jig which provides a solid supporting surface for theseelements.

I have successfully overcome this problem by providing a first partialpressure station into which the flexible solid jig passes to convey thewood trusses and the metallic truss plates thereinto, and the pressuremechanism at this first station is so arranged that the final metallictruss setting or rolling operation will not take place at this firststation, instead the mechanism at this first station functions topartially set the metallic truss plates in position at the joints of thetruss, such partial setting being only sufficient to maintain themetallic truss plates in proper position on the wood truss when, it ismoved from this first station, to the second finalizing station, or pairof pressure rollers, which act to finally set and cause completepenetration of the teeth or prongs of the metallic truss plates into thewood truss. As this description proceeds, it will be evident that wheneach truss and its metallic truss plates are travelling through thefirst station where mechanism functions to partially set the metallictruss plates in the truss, such trusses and metallic truss plates willbe supported on the solid flexible jig, so that it will not be possibleat this station of the apparatus to press the teeth of the metallictruss plate, one row at a time, into the truss. It is to be recognizedthat the pair of pressure rollers at the second station is spaced beyondthe solid flexible jig, so that when the final pressing operation ismeans for the conveyor and the initial clone, the truss, with thepartially set metallic truss plates therein, will not be supported onthe solid flexible jig. Thus, since the truss, with the partially setmetallic plates therein, passes between the set of pressure rollers atthe second station in a progressive manner, and at this point is notsupported on a solid surface, the teeth or projections of the metallictruss plate will be finally set or pressed into the wood truss one rowat a time.

The conveying jig for the trusseslwhich are being fabricated in myapparatus is unique in several respects. It will be appreciated that thevarious elements of the truss which are positioned on the conveyor mustbe maintained in proper positions thereon as they are moved through theinitial partial pressing station and then through the final pressingstation. I have so, arranged and constructed the conveyorof thisinvention that it will removably receive in adjustable positions meansengaging the truss elements to maintain them in proper positions. It isalso of significance to recognize that certain of these maintainingmeans which are located in a specific area of the truss areautomatically released from their truss ,member maintaining positions asthe-truss begins its travel through the initial pressing station." Asthis description proceeds, it will become clear that the saidmaintaining means which are located in a difierent area of the trussneed not be.

automatically released from their truss member maintaining positions,and the reasons for such operations will be fully explained hereinafter.

The jig of this invention includes a conveyor body to which motion isimparted by means of moving chains. The conveyor is mounted on rollerswhich in turn areaffixed to the chains and it is significant toappreciate that the rollers are afiixed to every other chain link. Theconveyor is composed of a plurality of what I shall term slats whichextend transversely with respect to the direction of travel of theconveyor, and each roller which is affixed to each slat is connected toa link of the chain which is that link which is behind the directionoftravel of the conveyor. Since the conveyor, which is composed of theslats, is flexible along planes which are transverse to the direction oftravel of the conveyor, the conveyor at the end of a run curvesdownwardly. Thus, ifthe rollers which mount the slats were not attachedto the following links with respect to each slat, the curving of theconveyor at the end of a run would occur too soon so thatthe properoperation at the initial partial embedding station would not occur.

With the foregoing general objects, features, and results in view, aswell as certain others which will be apparent from the followingexplanation, the invention consists in certain no'vel features indesign, construction, mounting and combination of elements, as will bemore fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompaning drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the jig, with parts thereof brokenaway, and particularly illustrating the tail end thereof.

FIG. 1A is a side view in elevation of the jig, with parts thereofbroken away, and particularly illustrating the drive pressing stationand the final pressing station.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the conveyor illusn'atingthe mounting and operating means for the slats of the conveyor and afixing and maintaining means which is removably and adjustably mountedon a slat and is engageable with a truss member. 7

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of aslat of thev conveyor, with parts thereofbroken away, and particularly illustrating the main taining and engagingmeans for a truss member.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view, with parts thereof broken away, of the mountingand operating means for the slats of the conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a slat and the mounting means therefor.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view illustrating a truss member maintaining andclamping means.

FIG. 8 is a view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a pair of trusses mounted in properpositions on the conveyor of the jig, parts thereof broken away.

ln-the accompaning drawings, and particularly in FIGS. 1 and 1A thereof,1 have used the numeral 1 to designate, in its entirety, the conveyor ofthe apparatus upon which the members of the trusses are positioned forembedment of the metal truss plates therein in the proper positions. Thenumeral 3 designates generally the tail end of the conveyor, while thenumeral 5 generally designates the motive power and embedding end of theconveyor. The numeral 7 has been selected to generally indicate theinitial pressing station of the apparatus, at which the metal trussplates are partially embedded into the truss members at the jointsthereof. The numeral 9 has been used to designate, in its entirety, thefinal truss plate embedding station at which the metal truss plates arecompletely embedded in the members of the truss at the joints thereof topermanently maintain said numbers in proper truss forming positions.

The conveyor of the jig is composed of a plurality of slats designatedgenerally by the numeral 11, such slats in forming the conveyor beingtransversely arranged with respect to the travel direction of theconveyor, and each slat comprises an upper surface 13 which is mountedon and fixed to, as by welding or the like, the head 15 of a generallyT-shaped member 17 which is provided with a stem or upright 19.Consideration of FIG. 5 of the drawings clearly indicates that a T-shaped member 17 is provided which extends longitudinally along eachunder surface of the slat upper'surface 13, the longitudinally extendingvertical edges 21 of the head 15 are disposed in the samevertical planesas the longitudinally extending edges of the slat surface 13. It willthus be apparent that each slat 11 has affixed thereto and dependingtherefrom adjacent each longitudinal edge thereof a T-shaped member 17.

f Extending the full width between every stem or upright 19 of each slatis a mounting member 23 for the slats, such mounting member being weldedat each end, or otherwise aff xed, to each upright 19 of each slat.ltshould be recognized that the width of each mounting member 23 issubstantially reduced relative to the length of each slat so that amounting member 23 is provided at each transverse end of each slat.intermediate the ends of each slat, I provide further mounting means forthe slats which I have designated by the numeral 25 (see FIG. 2). Suchmounting means 25, as will become apparent as this description proceeds,provides an additional mounting and supporting means for the slats ofthe conveyor as well as a drive means.

Each mounting means 23 adjacent the trailing end thereof is providedwith a pair of longitudinally spaced holes 27 therein, and 1 provide foreach slat an angled member having a base section 29 and an angularlydisposed and depending section 31. The base section 29 being drilled toprovide two holes therein which, when the base is in proper positionrelative to the mounting means, are in alignment with the holes 27. Anysuitable means for fixing the base section 29 to the undersurface of themounting means 23 may be provided, and as an example, l disclose headedscrews 35 which extend through the holes in base section 29 and those inthe mounting means 23, and on the extending end thereof 1 may employnuts 35 so that when the nuts are threaded on the screws, the baseportion 29 will be affixed to the mounting means 23 and the dependingarm 31 will depend downwardly therefrom and beyond the vertical plane ofthe transverse edge of each slat. Consideration of FIG. 2 of thedrawings clearly illustrates that an angle member having the base 29 andthe depending arm 31 will be afi'rxed to each end of the slat. Eachdepending arm 31 rotatively mounts a roller 41, such mountingarrangement may be of any type, such as is well known in the art. Thepintle 43 which extends through the roller 41 and the depending arm 31also extends through and is fixed to links 45 of the actuating chain forthe conveyor. As I have stated hereinabove, each slat, through themounting means 23, its depending arm 31 and a roller and pintle 43, isfixed to and driven by the following link 45 of the drive chains. Thiswill be evident particularly in view of the disclosure of thischaracteristic of my invention as presented in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

At each side of the conveyor, 1 provide generally E-configured membersdesignated generally by the numeral 47 and these supporting members 47provide a roller track or supporting means 49 upon which the rollers 41operate when the chains are moving and causing the links to travel. Themembers 47 may be supported in any suitable position as by means of legsor the like 51, the members 47 being affixed thereto in roper verticalpositions thereon by any suitable means. 1 have found that in mostfabrication work of this nature, it is desirable to have three or evenmore drive chains for the conveyor and in the example shown herein, 1provide three of such drive means for the conveyor and these three meansnot only cause movement of the conveyor but also function to support theconveyor. Centrally of the conveyor, 1 provide a further chain havinglinks 53 to which rollers 55 are fixed, such rollers 55 being rotatablymounted on a pintle 57 which extends through a depending arm 59 of abase portion 61 which is fixed to the intermediate mounting member 25,in the same manner that the base portion 29 is fixed to dependent arm31. It is to be understood that variations in the construction of theroller mountings and means of attachment to the links of the chain maybe used, and that such variations will fall within the spirit and scopeof my invention. It is significant, however, that each slat be affixedto and driven by a following link in the chain.

The intermediate rollers 55 are moveably supported on an angle element63 which may be supported from legs, post or the like in the generalmanner of supporting means for the E shaped supporting members 47. v

At the tail end 3 of the conveyor where the slatted conveyor systemreturns for another run, I provide any suitable type beam and bearingsystem. v

I have illustrated one sprocket wheel 65 over which the chain at oneside of the conveyor runs and, of course, there is a sprocket wheel foreach of the three or more chains which produce travel inthe conveyor.Any suitable'bearing arrangement 67 for the sprocket wheels may beemployed and an adjusting means 69 of any suitable type may be used foradjusting the sprocket wheels to maintain the conveyor with the properdegree of tautness.

The operational or motive power end 5 of the conveyor is particularlyillustrated in FIG. 1A. A side chain of the conveyor passes over apowered sprocket wheel 71. While only one sprocket wheel is disclosed,it will be apparent that one-is provided for each chain whichis used inthe conveyor apparatus. The motive power sprocket wheel 71 is fixed toan axle 73 which extends transversely across the conveyor apparatus anda further sprocket wheel for each chain is fixed to the axle 73 at theproper position thereon. It will be appreciated that rotation of theaxle 73 in a manner to be described will cause rotation of theadditional sprocket wheels which are affixed to the axle. Fixedlymounted on the axle 73 is a pulley 75 having a groove therein for anoperating strap, or the like, 77 which extends from the pulley 75 to apulley 79 which is fixed to the operating shaft 81 of an electric motor83. The pulley 75 is formed with an additional groove around which anoperating strap 85 extends and passes around a further pulley 87 whichpulley is fixed to a shaft 89 so that when the pulley 87 is rotated bymeans of the strap 85, the shaft 89 will be rotated. Fixed to, androtatable therewith, is an initial pressing or partial embedding roller91. The strap 85 extends from the pulley 87 and around a further pulley93.

which is fixed to a shaft 95, and fixed to said shaft for rotationtherewith is an upper pressure roller 97. The strap 85 is continuous andextends from the pulley 93 to a pulley 99 which is fixed on a shaft 101to cause rotation thereof. A lower pressure roller 103 is fixed to theshaft 101 for rotation therewith. The strap 85 extends from the pulley99 about a pair of spaced idlers 105 and 105 and from idler 105 thestrap returns to the sprocket motor powered pulley 75. The strap 77travels in the direction of the dotted line arrow in FIG. 1A so that thestrap 85 travels in the direction of the arrow adjacent the upper run ofsaid strap. Thus, each of the rollers 91, 97, and 103 rotate in thedirection of the arrow adjacent each roller.

I provide a fixed pressure plate 107 which extends transversely of theconveyor from one side to the other and is in independent transversesections with a space therebetween of sufficient width to permit theintermediate chain of the conveyor drive to pass therebetween. Thepressure plate 107 is mounted on an l-beam 109, such I-beam beingpositioned directly below the roller 91 so that a projected verticalplane from the I-beam will extend through the axis of the roller 91. Thepressure plate 107 is also mounted and supported by an angle bar, or thelike, 111. As will become apparent as this description proceeds, thepartial embedding roller 91 and the pressure plate 107 coact with oneanother to cause partial embedment of the metallic truss plates into themembers of the truss at the joints therebetween, when the apparatus isin operation. The partial embedding roller 91 is vertically adjustabletoward and from the pressure plate 107 by any suitable means designatedgenerally by the numeral 113. This vertical adjusting mechanism maycomprise a block 115 in which the shaft 89 is mounted and the block isvertically adjustable on a pair of posts 1 17, such vertical adjustmentbeing imparted to the block by means of a screw mechanism 1 19.

Mounted on a beam 121 is a guide plate 123. The beam 121 may be mountedand supported in the apparatus in any suitable manner, and the guideplate 123 extends transversely of the apparatus from side to sidethereof and the upper surface of the guide plate is in substantially thesame horizontal plane as the upper surface 13 of the conveyor slats.

The final truss plate embedding station 9 is positioned at the end ofthe apparatus where the trusses are in final fabricated form and emergefrom the apparatus. It is at thisstation that the partially embeddedmetallic truss plates are fully and completely forced into and embeddedin the truss members at the joints thereof. The pressure means for thisfinal embedment comprises the upper roller 97 and the lower roller 103.The lower roller 103 is fixed, as to its vertical position, while theupper roller is vertically adjustable with respect thereto, suchadjusting mechanism being designated in its entirety by the numeral 125.This mechanism will not now be described in detail as it is the same asthe adjusting mechanism 113 for the partial embedding roller 91.

' It will be appreciated that it is necessary to position and maintainthe truss forming elements in their proper and desired positions on theconveyor. While there are several means which may be employed foraccomplishing the purpose of maintaining the truss in proper position onthe conveyor, I have evolved one form of such means which achieves thepurpose thereof in a highly advantagous manner. Since trusses ofdiffering spans and cambers may be fabricated on this apparatus, it isnecessary that any truss member maintaining means be adjustable toconform to these different trusses. In FIGS. 6 and 8, particularly, Ihave disclosed one such adjustable medium which my work in thisdiscipline indicates is highly satisfactory. The slats 11 are spacedapart from each other along their longitudinal edges, as is clearlyshown at 127 in FIG. 1. This spacing between the longitudinallyextending sides of adjacent slats permits the maintaining means to bemovably or adjustably mounted on any slat. Such maintaining meanscomprises a pair of clamping means, designated generally by the numeral129, and each of these clamping means 129 is of the same structure andcomprises a base plate 131 having an element 133 upstanding from one endthereof and at the other end a flange 135 extends downwardly having aninwardly extending flange 137 extending from the lower end thereof. Thespace between the inwardly extending flange 137 and the lower surface ofthe base 131 is substantially equal to the thickness of the slat 13 andthe head 21 of the T 17. In using the maintaining mechanism, eachclamping means is positioned in the desired location on a slat with thebase 131 resting on the slat and the members 135 and 137 embracing theends of the slat and the head 21 while the flange 137 books under thehead 21. Thus, it will be apparent that the two parts A and B, of themaintaining means, are positioned as especially illustrated in FIG. 8.In order to firmly hold the members A and B in their proper adjustedpositions, I form threaded aligned holes in the upstanding members 133into which are threaded screws 139. It will thus be apparent that upontightening the screws, the upstanding members 133 of the parts A and Bwill be urged together thereby firmly clamping the members A and B tothe slat.

The maintaining means 129, as has been explained, is removably clampedto a slat in any desired position thereon, and affixed to either baseportion 131 is a truss member engaging and maintaining apparatus in thenature of a pressure means, and I have designated this pressure means inits entirety by the numeral 141. The pressure means .141 comprises aflat base 143 which is welded or otherwise afiixed to either of thebases 131 of the maintaining means 129. I provide a journal bracket 145into which extends one end of a shaft 147 which extends outwardlytherefrom, as at 149. The bracket 145 is supported by the shafi 147-149and is slidable relative to the base 143. A projected end or length ofthe shaft 149 rotatably extends into a fixed sleeve 151 which is fixedinto any suitable manner to the base 143. The shaft extends beyond theconfines of the sleeve 151, as at 153, and is provided with a workingnose 155 which is adapted to engage a truss member when the pressuremeans is in operative truss member maintaining position. The projectingportion 153 of the shaft has afiixed thereto and thereabout an element157 I which is provided at its rear and'with an annular cam surface 159which mates with and is cammed by a cam surface 159 which is provided onthe forward end of the sleeve 151. The length of the shaft 147 whichextends through the arms 161 of the bracket 145 is provided with a shaftoperating handle 163. The shaft operating handle 163 is fixed to theshaft so that upon manipulation of the handle from the full lineposition of FIG. 8 to the dotted line position of FIG. 8 will result inrotation of all the lengths of the shafts 147, 149, and 153, as well asrotation of the element 157 which is fixed to the portion 153 of theshaft. Due to the mating cam surfaces 157 and 159, the portion of theshaft 153 with its nose 155 will .be projected when the handle 163 ismoved into the dotted line position of FIG. 8. In this position, as willbe explained hereinafter, the

nose 155 will be in pressure maintaining engagement with a truss memberat the desired and preselected point thereon. It is to be recognizedthat various types of pressure fixtures for adjustable mounting on theconveyor and for maintaining engagement with the truss members may beused, and such pressure fixtures will still fall within the spirit andscope of my inventron.

In the initiation of the wooden truss prefabricating operation, one ormore trusses T and T (see FIG. 10) may be operated upon at one time. Inpreparing the various materials and elements for fabrication into atruss, the metallic connector plates are first placed on the conveyor 1with the prongs or teeth thereof in upright position. It will beappreciated that these plates are placed on the conveyor atprelocations, such locations being where the joints between trussmembers will be as at 165. When the metallic truss plates have been soplaced in proper positions on the conveyor, the wooden truss elementsare then placed on the conveyor in the proper positions for the finalapplication of the wooden truss. When this operation is completed, ametallic truss plate is placed at every joint 165 between members of thetruss, the teeth or prongs of each plate facing downwardly in engagementwith the truss members. The leading half of each truss, which is thatportion of the truss markedL, which extends from the peak P of the trussin the direction of travel of the conveyor may be maintained by fixturesmarked generally by the numeral 167 such fixtures not being providedwith means which is automatically released as the truss passes throughthe initial station 7. These fixtures 167 may be made in a variety offorms but preferably embody a maintaining means 129 (see FIG. 6 and 8)upon which may be mounted and fixed a truss member engaging andmaintaining shaft in the nature of the shaft 153, however, the shaft inthese fixtures 167 is not movable relative to the maintaining means 129in order to apply maintaining pressure on the truss members Tin theleading half of the truss. Instead, the fixtures 167 are movable intoposition engaging a truss member by positioning the maintaining means129 relative to a slat upon which it is mounted. Thus, it will berecognized that by moving the maintaining means 129, the truss memberengaging shaft may be moved into engagement with said truss member.

The trailing half of each truss which follows the leading half L thereofin the direction of travel of the trusses on the conveyor, l have markedwith the letter H, and this trailing half extends from the peak P ofeach truss rearwardly to the end thereof. In this trailing half of eachtruss, I use as the maintaining means the pressure means 141 which hasbeen particularly illustrated in FIGS. 68 of the drawings. As wasexplained, when the shaft which engages the truss member to maintain itin proper position is projected, the operating or manipulating handle163 is in upright position as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 8.

When the truss membersand metallic truss plates have been positioned onthe conveyor and maintained in proper positions thereon by the fixtures167 and the pressure fixture 141, the electric motor 83 is energized sothat the conveyor with the truss members, etc., thereon will move in thedirection of the arrow and towards the'initial station 7. At thisstation the metallic truss plates will be partially embedded in thetruss members atthe joints thereof. As the conveyor moves in thedirection of the arrows, the bottom edges of the uprights 19 of theslats will be in sliding engagement, at the initial station 7, with thepressure plate 107 which is in alignment with the axis of the roller 91.Thus, during this partial embedding operation, there will be a solidsurface for the truss members and this is provided by the rigid pressureplate 107. When the trailing half of the truss reaches the initialstation 7, each handle 163 of the pressure means 141 will engage theroller 91 and will be moved into inoperative position as illustrated infull lines in FIG. 8, so that each pressure operating nose 155 will beretracted and not in maintaining engagement with its particular trussmember. This is essential for those fixtures on the trailing half ofeach truss. For if this type of automatic release of these pressurefixtures was not provided, a piece of the wood of the truss memberswould be snapped or broken as the conveyor curves downwardly on itsreturn run to the tail end of the apparatus. From the initial station 7,the trusses with the partially embedded metallic plates therein slideacross the guide plate 123 and then pass between the pressure rollers 97and 103 at the final station 9 of the apparatus. It will be understoodthat at this station, the pressure rollers 97 and 103 fully embed themetallic truss plates into their final truss maintaining positions. Itwill now be clear that at the initial station 7 the entire body of themetallic truss plate is on a rigid supporting surface formed by'theslats of the conveyor which are rigidly supported by the uprights 19which are in sliding engagement with pressure plate 107. At the finalstation 9 the rows of teeth will be'fullyembedded, one at a time, sinceeach row will progressively pass between pressure rollers 97 and 103.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for prefabricating wooden truss members into a completedtruss, including in combination, a conveyor for supporting wooden trussmembers and pronged metallic truss plates positioned below and on top ofsaid wooden truss members and extending across the joints between saidwooden truss members, means for imparting movement to said conveyor, thewooden truss members and metallic truss plates being movable with saidconveyor, an initial pressure station adjacent the forward end of saidconveyor for partially embedding said metallic truss plates into thewooden truss plates, and a final pressure station spaced from saidinitial station and beyond said conveyor for fully embedding saidmetallic truss plates mto said wooden truss members to complete thefabrication of the truss.

2. Apparatus in accordance'with claim 1, wherein a rigid supportingsurface is provided at said initial pressure station, and said trussmembers and metallic truss plates are supported thereon when they passthrough the initial station.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said rigid supportingsurface comprises said conveyor and a fixed rigid member disposedthereunder, said conveyor being in sliding engagement with said fixedrigid member.

4, Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein a pres sure roller isprovided at said initial pressure station, said pres sure roller beingrotatively mounted above said conveyor and adapted to apply partialembedding pressure to the metallic truss plates. g

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least a portion ofsaid fixed rigid member is in a vertical plane projected from the axisof said pressure roller.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein means depends from theupper surface of said conveyor and is movable therewith, and said meansslidably engages said fixed rigid member.

7. Apparatus in accordance with clam 1, wherein said final pressurestation comprises a pair of vertically aligned and spaced apart pressurerollers.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said final pressurestation is spaced from said initial pressure station a distance lessthan the length of a truss being fabricated.

9, Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein means are adjustablymounted on said conveyor and are in engagement with said trussmembers'maintaining them in position as they travel with the conveyor.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein certain of said meansare releasable pressure means and the other of said means remain inmaintaining engagement with certain truss members.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said releasablepressure means engage and maintain the truss members comprising thetrailing half of the truss, and said the other means engage and maintainthe truss members comprising the leading half of the truss.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the pressure on saidcertain of said means is automatically released at said initial pressurestation.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein each of said certainof said means is provided with a swingable'operating handle, saidoperating handle being in upstanding position when in operative positioncausing said means to engage and maintain a truss member, and apressureroller at said initial station, said operating handle beingengageable with said pressure roller and swingable thereby intoinoperative position.

14. Apparatus for prefabricating wooden truss members into a completedtruss, including in combination, a conveyor for supporting wooden trussmembers and pronged metallic truss plates positioned below and on top ofsaid wooden truss members and extending across the joints between saidwooden truss members, chain means for imparting movement to saidconveyor, the wooden truss members and the metallic truss plates beingmovable with said conveyor, means applying pressure to said metallictruss plates as they are moved by the conveyor to embed them'in thetruss members, and said conveyor composed of a plurality of elongatedslats having portions depending therefrom, mounting means fixed to saidportions, rollers rotatably carried on said mounting means, a track forsaid rollers and said rollers being connected to a chain.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said chain includeslinks and each roller is connected to a link rearwardly thereof withrespect to the direction of travel of the conveyor. 7 i

1. Apparatus for prefabricating wooden truss members into a completedtruss, including in combination, a conveyor for supporting wooden trussmembers and pronged metallic truss plates positioned below and on top ofsaid wooden truss members and extending across the joints between saidwooden truss members, means for imparting movement to said conveyor, thewooden truss members and metallic truss plates being movable with saidconveyor, an initial pressure station adjacent the forward end of saidconveyor for partially embedding said metallic truss plates into thewooden truss plates, and a final pressure station spaced from saidinitial station and beyond said conveyor for fully embedding saidmetallic truss plates into said wooden truss members to complete thefabrication of the truss.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1,wherein a rigid supporting surface is provided at said inItial pressurestation, and said truss members and metallic truss plates are supportedthereon when they pass through the initial station.
 3. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 2, wherein said rigid supporting surface comprisessaid conveyor and a fixed rigid member disposed thereunder, saidconveyor being in sliding engagement with said fixed rigid member. 4.Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein a pressure roller isprovided at said initial pressure station, said pressure roller beingrotatively mounted above said conveyor and adapted to apply partialembedding pressure to the metallic truss plates.
 5. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said fixed rigidmember is in a vertical plane projected from the axis of said pressureroller.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein means dependsfrom the upper surface of said conveyor and is movable therewith, andsaid means slidably engages said fixed rigid member.
 7. Apparatus inaccordance with clam 1, wherein said final pressure station comprises apair of vertically aligned and spaced apart pressure rollers. 8.Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said final pressurestation is spaced from said initial pressure station a distance lessthan the length of a truss being fabricated. 9, Apparatus in accordancewith claim 1, wherein means are adjustably mounted on said conveyor andare in engagement with said truss members maintaining them in positionas they travel with the conveyor.
 10. Apparatus in accordance with claim9, wherein certain of said means are releasable pressure means and theother of said means remain in maintaining engagement with certain trussmembers.
 11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein saidreleasable pressure means engage and maintain the truss memberscomprising the trailing half of the truss, and said the other meansengage and maintain the truss members comprising the leading half of thetruss.
 12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the pressureon said certain of said means is automatically released at said initialpressure station.
 13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, whereineach of said certain of said means is provided with a swingableoperating handle, said operating handle being in upstanding positionwhen in operative position causing said means to engage and maintain atruss member, and a pressure roller at said initial station, saidoperating handle being engageable with said pressure roller andswingable thereby into inoperative position.
 14. Apparatus forprefabricating wooden truss members into a completed truss, including incombination, a conveyor for supporting wooden truss members and prongedmetallic truss plates positioned below and on top of said wooden trussmembers and extending across the joints between said wooden trussmembers, chain means for imparting movement to said conveyor, the woodentruss members and the metallic truss plates being movable with saidconveyor, means applying pressure to said metallic truss plates as theyare moved by the conveyor to embed them in the truss members, and saidconveyor composed of a plurality of elongated slats having portionsdepending therefrom, mounting means fixed to said portions, rollersrotatably carried on said mounting means, a track for said rollers andsaid rollers being connected to a chain.
 15. Apparatus in accordancewith claim 14, wherein said chain includes links and each roller isconnected to a link rearwardly thereof with respect to the direction oftravel of the conveyor.